News | ALXnow - Part 1037

Eight Million Square Feet of New Development In the Works for Potomac Yard

Published November 7, 2019 at 11:30AM

Just a few days after submitting plans for the Virginia Tech site near the North Potomac Yard Metro station, JBG Smith has submitted early concept designs for the development that will replace Target and the other Potomac Yard stores.

While the area is known today as a big-box shopping center and surface parking lot, the majority of the new development will be office and residential spaces in a large grid, the Washington Business Journal first reported. Ten of the buildings will be required to have retail, with optional retail at the southern end of the site.

Public Hearing Next Week for Sweeping Overhaul of Alexandria’s Bus System

By Vernon Miles

Published November 7, 2019 at 10:30AM

After a series of community meetings, a public hearing is scheduled next week for a plan that could radically reshape how the city’s DASH bus network operates.

The big selling point of the new plan is that it would increase the frequency of buses in the city’s current and planned high-density corridors, like Potomac Yard and the Landmark/Van Dorn Corridor. In many of these locations, buses would be running at least every 15 minutes all day, every day.

With Amazon on the Horizon, City Begins Update to Arlandria and Del Ray Plans

By Vernon Miles

Published November 7, 2019 at 9:30AM

Del Ray North (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria is taking another look at the future of Arlandria and Del Ray and how those communities can weather the planned urbanization of the “National Landing” area.

This fall, the city is launching its community engagement for plans to update the 2005 Mount Vernon Avenue Business Plan and the 2003 Long-Term Vision and Action Plan for the Arlandria Neighborhood. The city cites the nearby arrival of Amazon, the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, and the North Potomac Yard Metro station as looming developments that could start to change the character of the residential and commercial communities to the west.

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published November 7, 2019 at 8:00AM

Virginia Tech Holding Community Forums — “Community engagement in Alexandria, Virginia, took on an exciting form last month with the debut of Tech on Tap at Port City Brewing Company’s headquarters. The free event on Oct. 17 was the first in a regular speaker series intended to engage the local community in the types of issues and problems Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus in Potomac Yard will explore.” [Virginia Tech]

City Hosting Opioid Abuse Discussion — “On November 18, the City of Alexandria will host ‘A Community Conversation: Strategic Plan to Eliminate Opioid Misuse and Its Harmful Effects in Alexandria.’ Residents are invited to learn more about the local effects of the national opioid crisis and the City’s strategy to address it. The event will be held from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of T.C. Williams High School at 3330 King Street.” [City of Alexandria]

Alexandria’s Capital Bikeshare Plans Have a Flat Tire

By Vernon Miles

Published November 6, 2019 at 3:20PM

Matt Neumann with Capital Bikeshare checks bikes on King Street in Old Town Alexandria. (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

The Capital Bikeshare’s expansion in Alexandria has hit some serious snags that has resulted in at least a two-year delay in the arrival of new stations.

In 2017, the City of Alexandria approved 10 new Capital Bikeshare stations, which would have included a push into the West End and Potomac Yard. The plan was to install them in 2018, according to the Washington Post, but that didn’t happen. Then the city’s FY 2020-29 Capital Improvement Program cited summer 2019 as the proposed completion date, but that hasn’t happened either.

New Art Deco Influenced Townhouses Planned for Braddock Neighborhood

By Vernon Miles

Published November 6, 2019 at 2:00PM

New townhouses proposed at 601 North Alfred Street (image via City of Alexandria)

A brick home built around 1940 in the Braddock neighborhood could be torn down and replaced with a pair of new townhouses.

The pair of townhouses at 603 N. Alfred Street are scheduled for review at the Board of Architectural (BAR) tonight (Wednesday) at 7 p.m.

Alexandria Film Festival Opens This Week

By Vernon Miles

Published November 6, 2019 at 11:30AM

Alexandria’s 13th annual film festival officially starts tomorrow, with movie screenings across Alexandria scheduled to run through the weekend.

The biggest name at the festival this year is Alexandria native and former Saturday Night Live performer Casey Wilson, who is showing Daddio, her short film about a daughter and an eccentric father struggling to find ways to cope with the loss of the matriarch of the family.

Choong Man Chicken Coming to the West End

By Vernon Miles

Published November 6, 2019 at 10:30AM

Korean chicken restaurant Choong Man Chicken is coming to the northwest corner of Alexandria.

Paperwork filed for the new restaurant says it will be moving into Suite 4668 at Shoppes at Summit Centre (4700 King Street), though suite is currently home to nail salon that said they have no plans to close, while the nearby Suite 4686 is currently vacant.

Democratic Control of Virginia Legislature Reignites Alexandria Self-Governance Questions

By Vernon Miles

Published November 6, 2019 at 9:30AM

Voting at Douglas MacArthur School (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

It’s an early Christmas for Alexandria leadership, with Democrats taking control of the Virginia legislature opening the door for efforts to assert local control of several key policy questions.

Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, which means that localities like Alexandria can only exercise powers expressly granted by the state. In practice, Mayor Justin Wilson said this leaves localities forced to seek approval from the state for basic city policy questions, particularly on fiscal issues. Under a Republican majority, Alexandria struggled to have many of its legislative priorities addressed.

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published November 6, 2019 at 8:00AM

Most City Facilities Open on Monday — “City of Alexandria government offices, libraries and recreation centers will be open on Monday, November 11.” [City of Alexandria]

Veterans Day Ceremony Planned — “The City of Alexandria and Friends of Rocky Versace will host the 18th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Monday, November 11, 1-2 p.m. at Mount Vernon Recreation Center (2701 Commonwealth Ave.).” [City of Alexandria]

Local Nature Program Receives Grant Funding for Four Mile Run Education

By Vernon Miles

Published November 5, 2019 at 3:45PM

The Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation was announced as the recipient of a $10,000 grant from Dominion Energy to help local students learn about Four Mile Run — the creek that runs between Alexandria and Arlington.

The funding goes to the Nature Explorers and Restorer Project, which aims to help local elementary and middle school-age children in Arlandria and other surrounding communities, according to a press release.